How to design a smart reno

Lena Sin, Postmedia News06.18.2013

Before you start dreaming of granite countertops for your new kitchen or hardwood floors for your living room, you need to think about the mechanics of your home. Do you need a new heating system? Plumbing? Furnace? Water hook-up?

Related

For many, summer is the time to tackle home renovations. Interior designer Karen Sealy offers these tips to help guide you through the process.

Think about the mechanics first: When it comes to renovating, it's easy to skip the boring stuff such as plumbing and heating and jump straight to the fun interior finishes. But this is a mistake Sealy cautions against.

Before you start dreaming of granite countertops for your new kitchen or hardwood floors for your living room, you need to think about the mechanics of your home.

Do you need a new heating system? Plumbing? Furnace? Water hook-up?

"If you create these amazing spaces in your home and they look beautiful but there's a drafty room, or cold room, all the work and effort you put in, it's not worth it if the room's not comfortable," says Sealy.

It's important to consider not just upfront costs, but ongoing operating costs and environmental impact, she adds.

For those who are considering a new heating system, Sealy is a fan of radiant heat. "I love radiant heating because whenever you heat a mass ... it's going to hold heat better than air. Furnaces are constantly cycling on and off because air can't hold heat," she says.

Pick quality over quantity: Budget is often the biggest challenge for anyone facing a renovation.

If your wish list is to re-do several rooms in the house, but you're finding a squeeze on your pocket book, pick the room where you spend the most time. By limiting the reno to just one room, you'll have a far greater impact.

"If you do a little bit in the basement, a little bit in the kitchen, a little bit in the family room, not one of those rooms will feel done," says Sealy. "Spend the money where you live."

Even with the confines of a single space, Sealy recommends choosing quality over quantity.

As an example, she cites an outdoor entertaining space she designed for a client. While the "party pavilion" could have been much larger for the money spent, Sealy chose a smaller footprint and materials that would last a lifetime.

"A gazebo of this size would've cost $15,000, whereas this is probably almost twice as much because you're using quality materials that are going to last a lifetime, that will wear and look good season after season," she says.

Think about the function of the space: Consider how a room will function today - and tomorrow.

"If you're going to be there five years, 10 years or 20 years, it's important to think about what your function will be down the road," says Sealy.

Consider how your room can evolve, such as building storage that will work for your files now but can hide toys later when your family grows.

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.